Handcrafted Culture

Kalamazoo is a cultural hub for artists, makers and entrepreneurs of all stripes.

Home to the #1 beer and brewery in America, award-winning spirits, talented artists and an abundant farm-to-table scene; Get to know some of the people at the heart of Kalamazoo's maker culture.

Learn a Craft

Book Arts Center

Book Arts Center

At the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center you can learn traditional arts like papermaking, printmaking, book binding, letterpress, creative writing, paper marbling, calligraphy and more.

Combat Ready Art

Combat Ready Art

At Combat Ready Art you can learn various ironworking methods and processes, including blacksmithing, knife making, and welding. Classes are open to individuals ages 9 and up (with parent/guardian present) as well as couples, families, team building and more.

Glass Art Kalamazoo

Glass Art Kalamazoo

Glass Art Kalamazoo offers a variety of classes and experiences in glass blowing, lampworking, bead making, kiln fusing, and cold working.

Meet Some of Our Local Makers

 

 

Green Door Distilling Co.

Josh Cook of Green Door Distilling Co. blends his passion for the outdoors and crafting fine spirits in Kalamazoo. Their craft spirits and their makers are a vibrant and adventurous culture of their own.

Brewer testing beer

 

 

Tiny Giant Farm

Julia Whitney Brown and her husband chose Kalamazoo for their home because it gave them room for recreation, artistic pursuits and organic farming. Julia creates pottery inspired by sustainable farming. Together they sell their produce and pottery at local markets.

Tiny Giant Farm Julia Brown and husband

Andrew Koehler

Andrew Koehler is currently the music director of the Kalamazoo Philharmonia, which he leads as part of his position as an associate professor of music at Kalamazoo College. He holds concurrent posts as music director of the University Symphony Orchestra at Western Michigan University’s School of Music, where he has an adjunct appointment; at the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, one of the nation’s oldest youth orchestras.

Andrew Koehler
Smiling man with beer

Beer

There's self-proclaimed "beer towns" and then there's Kalamazoo, home to Bell's Brewery and Oberon and Two Hearted Ale. Discover our digital beer passport and taste brew from the…

Coffee shop interior

Coffee

Our coffee shops share space with electric scooter start-ups and ceramics studios, where you cozy up to pink countertops or amidst Jumanji-style jungle scenes. Whether you’re a…

Customers at food truck

Food

From food trucks to bustling farmers markets to restaurants serving honest-to-goodness local fare; Kalamazoo is without a doubt a culinary haven for foodies.

Handcrafted is homegrown and second nature here. Once you've channeled your inner maker, Kalamazoo offers countless ways to step out from the hustle and bustle to recharge.

Featured

Featured

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